Makati
City, 25 October 2005 --- UNICEF Philippines commemorated the International Year
of the Child (IYC) with the launch of a book entitled, “1979:
Remembering the International Year of the Child, Dr. Estefania
Aldaba Lim’s Two-Year Campaign for the Welfare of Children.”

The International
Year of the Child was a global campaign to raise awareness
and political commitments for the well-being of children all
over the world.

“The International
Year of the Child paved the way for the extraordinary success
of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the only international
treaty that has near-universal acceptance and ratification
today,” declared UNICEF Country Representative in the
Philippines, Dr. Nicholas Alipui.

One of the goals
was to set up 50 National IYC Commissions all over the world.
A total of 148 National IYC Commissions were set up.

“The International
Year of the Child was the turn-about year,” remarked
the Executive Director of the Philippines Council for the
Welfare of Children, Undersecretary Lina Laigo, “when
children were recognized to be distinct, important and critical
by world leaders, non-governmental organizations, and the
United Nations.

Dr. Estefania Aldaba
Lim, a Filipino educator and social activist, was appointed
as the United Nations Special Envoy for the International
Year of the Child, with the rank of Assistant Secretary General.

As IYC’s
most prominent and visible advocate, Dr Aldaba Lim travelled
to more than 60 countries in two years, meeting with world
leaders and other influential persons in each country.

UNICEF and its
partners also gave recognition to the contribution of Dr Aldaba
Lim, now in her late eighties. Dr Alipui said, “On behalf
of the millions of children whose lives and hearts you touched
in Africa, in Asia, in Europe, in the Americas, and right
here at home in the Philippines – we honour and thank
you.”

Copies of the book
are available at UNICEF through telephone number 9010175.

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